2013 H Street, NW / Washington,
DC 20006 / (202) 659-4310
Almost everyone knows that smoking is hazardous to health and can cause lung cancer in smokers. But most people have very little idea of exactly how dangerous smoking can be, how many different types of diseases it can cause or complicate, or how much smoking increases the risk of contracting various deadly diseases. The purpose of this document is to provide this basic information.
1) OVERVIEW: Smoking causes fully one sixth of all deaths in the United States each year--more than alcohol, all illicit drugs, AIDS, guns, automobiles, and all forms of air pollution COMBINED. A conservative estimate, looking only at deaths directly caused by diseases most clearly caused by smoking, is 350,000 per year--more than two jumbo jets crashing every single day. Some estimates place the total number of deaths at 500,000 each year!
2) CORONARY HEART DISEASE (CHD): Of the estimated 565,000 deaths each year from CHD, 30 percent--170,000--are caused by smoking. Every person who smokes a pack or more per day increases his risk of the disease by at least 150 percent (2.5 times the chance) and his risk of dying of sudden cardiac death by 140 percent (2.4 times the chance). The principal constituents of tobacco smoke associated with CHD are nicotine and carbon monoxide.
3) ALL CANCERS: Of the estimated 472,000 deaths each year from cancer, 30 percent--over 140,000--are caused by smoking. A smoker increases his chance of getting cancer by 100 percent (2 times), and a heavy smoker increases his chances by 200-300 percent (3-4 times). The principal substances causing cancer are found in the "tar."
4) LUNG CANCER: Of the largest single category of cancer deaths, lung cancer, 80-90 percent of the 130,000 annual deaths are caused by smoking. A smoker increases his risk of getting lung cancer 900 percent (10 times), and a heavy smoker increases his risk over 1400 percent (15-25 times the risk). The five-year survival rate for lung cancer is only 10 percent, among the lowest for all cancers. Smoking also greatly multiplies the chances of contracting lung cancer if the smoker is also exposed to other substances such as asbestos, coal dust, cotton dust, saw dust, heavy metals, and other industrial contaminants. For example, a smoker who is also exposed to asbestos increases his risk of contracting lung cancer nearly 60 times!
5) OTHER CANCERS: Smoking is also responsible for many other types of cancers, many of which prove fatal. Following are the other major forms of cancer with: (1) the total number of annual deaths, (2) the percentage caused by smoking (where available), (3) the relative risk comparing smokers to comparable nonsmokers (where available), and (4) the survival rate (years and percent):
(1) (2) (3) (4)
LARYNX 4,000 84% 5-33 5 yr = 60%
ORAL (lip, tongue, etc. 9,000 50-70% 2-33 5 yr = 25-45%
ESOPHAGUS 8,000 50% 2-8 5 yr = 3%
BLADDER 11,000 30-40% 2-4 5 yr = 50-60%
KIDNEY 9,000 1-5 cigarette median survival time
smokers; 10-12 pipe = 1-3 years
and cigar smokers
PANCREAS 24,000 >1-3 3 yr = 2%
STOMACH 14,000 5 yr = 16%
6) CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG DISEASE (COLD): Cigarette smoking is the major cause of 80-90 percent of COLD morbidity and mortality in the U.S. In older age groups, mild to moderate emphysema is present in most smokers and rare in nonsmokers. The severity of emphysema among smokers increases with the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the duration of the smoking habit. Smokers have a higher frequency of respiratory system problems (cough, phlegm, wheezing) and a steeper decline in lung expiratory airflow with increasing age.
7) ULCERS: Cigarette smoking is significantly associated with the incidence of peptic ulcers, and increases the risk of dying from PEPTIC ULCERS by about two times. Deaths from DUODENAL ULCERS are 2 to 4 times more common in smokers than nonsmokers, and duodenal ulcers heal more slowly and recur more frequently in smokers than nonsmokers
8) FIRES: Cigarettes are the major cause of residential fire deaths in the U.S., including hotels and motels, dormitories, nursing homes, and hospitals. Those most likely to be killed are the smokers and their families or living companions. In 1980 smoking caused between 400 and 600 million dollars in fire losses.
9) OTHER: Smoking can cause a wide variety of complications of medical problems and procedures, even those not caused by smoking itself. Examples include amputations due to nicotine constricting blood vessels where circulation is already impaired, and substantially longer periods to recover from most serious operations. Smokers also have far more accidents both driving cars and in general, and are more likely to be absent from work and become disabled.
NOTE: This leaflet, distributed as a public service, contains general information. For specific medical problems related to smoking, you should consult your physician.
2013 H Street, NW / Washington,
DC 20006 / (202) 659-4310